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[sv-rituals] Gayatri par excellence

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Shreyas Sarangan • November 4, 2002 


Gayatri par excellence 

http://dailypioneer.com/secon3.asp?cat=\opd2&d=oped
Harish C Gaur 

The Vedic mantras for meditation are in verses. These,
considered to have been revealed to different risis,
are addressed to different deities (devas) also
indicate the rhythmical structure (metre) of the
mantra. This brings in discipline in their recitation.
There are a large number of metres; Gayatri is one of
the principally used meters in Vedas. The (individual)
mantras, revealed to different risis over a period
were passed on (by hearing, hence, called Sruti) to
successive generation of disciples, until their
classification by Vedavyasa in the form of 4 Vedas
(Rg, Yajur, Sama and Atharva). Revealed in different
contexts, a given mantra addressed to same deity, is
found to have been revealed to different risis, to be
rendered in different metres. 


The meditation Vedic mantra: tatsavitur varenyam;
Bhargo devasya dhimahi; Dhiyo yo nah pracodayat was
revealed to risi Vishvamitra, is addressed to Savitar,
the most resplendent being in the sun, to be rendered
in Gayatri metre. Although Gayatri is the name of the
metre (with 24 syllables), the mantra is often
referred to as Gayatri mantra. It is a celebrated
mantra, which appears in all Vedas. According to HH
Wilson, "the English readers knew about this mantra
from William Jone's translation of a periphrastic
interpretation he rendered to it. He considered it as
Gayatri par excellence" and added "one should adore
the supremacy of divine sun who illuminates all, from
which all proceed, to whom all must return, to whom we
invoke our understanding aright..."It is both an
ardent prayer and a devotion. 


Recitation of the mantra is to be done in 3 brief
halts (steps, padas of 8 syllables each). In Brihad
Upanisad, the first pada of Gayatri (Tatsavitur
varenyam) is considered to refer to the three worlds:
bhumi (earth), antariksa (sky, the intermediate region
between the other 2 and dyaus (heaven). It is said,
"He who understands and knows this (pada), can win as
much as there is in the three worlds. This relates to
material wealth and material universe. 


It has also been emphasised that Gayatri rests on the
apparently visible and supramundane fourth pada
because sun is the essence of the gross and subtle
universe. Things deprived of their essence become
lifeless and unstable. Therefore, Gayatri with its 3
padas rests on the sun. The verse continues: the
fourth pada (sun) rests on truth (satya). Thus, truth
supports the fourth pada of Gayatri, truth is the
strength of the vital force (referred to as brahman)
within the body and hence the universe is considered
to rests on Gayatri. 


In Yajurveda recitation of (3) vyahritis (bhuh,
bhuvah, suvah), the mystical utterances in Vedas
precede this mantra. Bhuh stands for this world, agni,
sacred Rk verses of Rgveda and prana (air breathed
in); bhuvah stands for intermediate region between
heaven and earth, vayu, Saman chants of Samaveda and
apana (air breathed out); suvah is for heaven, the sun
by which the world flourishes, sacrificial procedures
called Yajuh of Yajurveda and vyana, the vital air
that sustains life when breathing is suspended. 


Recitation of auspicious monosyllable Om (brahman) is
also introduced. Manu, who formulated the religious
code of conduct, gave the proper way of recitation of
Gayatri mantra. First, one should recite "Om"
(brahman), followed by (3) vyahritis (bhur, bhuva,
suvah) and then 3 padas of Gayatri mentioned above.
These should be accompanied by momentary but distinct
halts while contemplating on the meaning of each. Manu
has condemned those who practice Gayatri mantra
without Om and vyahrtis. 


The mantra says: "Om we meditate on the spiritual
effulgence of the adorable supreme reality, the source
of three phenomenal worlds, physical (bhuh), subtle of
physical (bhuvah) and potential or causal (bhuvah)
both macrocosmically (external) and microcosmically
(internal). May the divine supreme being (Savitar, in
the sun) stimulate our intelligence so that we may
realise the supreme truth (satyam brahman)". 


Since the mantra is addressed to Savitar (sun), one
should turn his face eastward in the morning
meditation and westward in the evening meditation.

 
 


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